The Outlander Sport is a good, solid choice in the compact crossover class

The Outlander Sport has been Mitsubishi's most popular vehicle in the US
since its debut for 2011, and after a week in a front-wheel drive example
of the range-topping GT model I'm not surprised by that at all. The
Outlander Sport is a an honest and unpretentious compact crossover. It
doesn't try to be a luxury car or a sports car or anything other than what
it is -- a comfortable, economical, useful, and competitively-priced
small-footprint car with good space utilization, useful features as
standard equipment even at entry level, and the capability to get you
nearly anywhere you might sanely want to go in a car. Like other small
crossovers, it's a tall wagon at heart, and is available in front- and
all-wheel drive form, with the AWD called "All Wheel Control" or AWC.

If the styling hasn't changed tremendously since its introduction, the
Outlander Sport has grown up since then. Its original 2.0-liter,
148-horsepower four-cylinder engine was joined by a 2.4-liter four with 168
hp last year, and at that time the entry ES and core SE trim levels were
joined by the premium GT. For 2016 the front styling has been brought
closer to that of its larger sibling Outlander. There are some interior
enhancements, and a new SEL trim level between the SE and GT. The 2.0-liter
engine is standard in the ES, with the 2.4 and option, and the ES 2.0 FWD
can be had with a five-speed manual transmission. All others, FWD or AWC,
are CVT-only -- a non-issue as Mitsubishi's CVT is one of the best in the
business.

Equipment levels are high, with micron filtration air conditioning,
cruise control, power windows, (heated) mirrors, and door locks, LED
taillights, leather wrap on the steering wheel rim and shift knob, a 60/40
split-folding rear seat, and an AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with the FUSE
Handsfree Link System™ for voice control of an iPod® and cell phone
among the comfort and convenience amenities standard in the ES. A full
suite of safety-oriented construction and technology is also found even in
the "base" model.

Above that, depending on model, are features including HID headlights, a
panoramic glass roof, LED interior mood lighting, upgraded audio,
rain-sensing wipers, leather seating surfaces, a rearview camera, and
proximity un/lock and stop/start with an electronic fob. These and more are
standard in the GT. In looking through notes and previous reviews, it
appears that the new Outlander Sport trim levels are really just the more
popular option packages of previous years made into standalone models. This
benefits everyone from the manufacturer to the customer with simplicity and
ease of ordering and purchase. The $26,845 MSRP of my FWD 2016 Outlander
Sport GT compares very well with the $27,170 of a FWD 2013 SE tested three
years ago -- more powerful engine, similar fuel economy, same panoramic
sunroof and 710-watt Rockford-Fosgate audio system, with leather instead of
cloth seating for less cash. The `13 had a navigation system with 40GB hard
disk for $2,000. This one didn't -- but your phone or other device probably
has those capabilities and you already have it.

More car for less money? Sounds good to me. The Mitsubishi Outlander
Sport may not make you the envy of your neighbors but it will get you
wherever you need to go in comfort, with space and maneuverability and a
minimal appetite for unleaded regular. It's a great car for the real
world.

APPEARANCE: An Outlander Sport is a handsome iteration of the basic
compact crossover two-box bauplan, neither overly bland nor absurdly
aggressive. Which fits the car's character well. The old oversize grille
has made way for the new "Dynamic Shield", more complex and
visually-stimulating in detail and trim, but not all that different
underneath. The plastic cladding beneath the front part of the car is less
off-road skid plate than aerodynamic underbody air management. It matches
the black cladding that surrounds the Outlander Sport's lower perimeter. At
the rear, the taillight shape reprises that of the headlights and a single
exhaust pipe exits at the lower right. Eighteen-inch alloy wheels are
standard for all models.

2016 Mitsubishi Outlander
Sport

COMFORT: Inside, the Outlander Sport is simple, functional, and honest.
Head- and leg-room are good, front and rear, with width less so -- but this
is a compact, not midsize, crossover, and its relative narrowness works as
an advantage when parking. Textured soft-touch materials are used for the
upper parts of the instrument panel and doors in all trim levels. SELs and
GTs get power folding outside mirrors that fold in when the car is locked
and out as the driver (with fob) walks up to the car. They also have
leather seating and a power driver's seat; they and the SE also have
two-level heat for the front cushions. All get a tilt- and reach-adjustable
steering wheel with a leather rim and audio, phone, and cruise controls.
Seat comfort is very good, with an upright, high-eyepoint driving position
for good visibility. The main instruments are brightly backlit and easily
visible. A central touchscreen controls the GT's Rockford-Fosgate audio
system, with choices of AM, FM, and Sirius/XM radio, CD, USB/iPod, and
Bluetooth streaming. Climate controls are separate and simple. Rear seat
width is better for two than three -- as in all small vehicles -- and a
60/40 folding seatback adds luggage/cargo versatility. If you're under 5-4,
you could fold the rear seat down and camp, diagonally. Rear passengers get
the best view out of the GT's fixed panoramic glass roof. A space-saver
spare is found under the rear load floor.

SAFETY: IIHS Mitsubishi is justifiably proud that the Outlander Sport
has earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety (IIHS). Mitsubishi's Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution
(RISE) unibody design and construction, dual front and front side and
driver's knee airbags, strong four-wheel antilock disc brakes with
electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), Active Stability Control (ASC),
all-speed traction control, Hill-Start Assist (HSA), and a brake over-ride
system that will slow the car if both brake and accelerator pedals are
pressed at the same time contributed to that.

RIDE AND HANDLING: There really isn't anything "sport"-oriented to the
Outlander Sport's chassis tuning, and I suspect that will suit the majority
of buyers. The fully-independent MacPherson strut/multilink is tuned for
comfort, moderately firm but well-damped. Some body roll is apparent when
getting enthusiastic -- this is no Lancer Evo, and at the end of a long day
everyone inside will be happy of that. Steering is electrically assisted
for benefits to efficiency, and is moderately light with some road feel.
Brakes are strong and stop well. Like all crossovers, the Outlander Sport
is not really made for serious off-road use, even in AWC form. But its 8.5
inches of clearance should be useful on forest and fire roads, and save the
mechanical bits from smaller bit of roadway debris.

PERFORMANCE: Light weight -- just over 3100 pounds in FWD form -- means
that even in 2.0-liter form the Outlander Sport is quick enough for
everyday traffic and light on fuel consumption. Add the 2.4-liter engine's
20 more horsepower (168 at 6000 rpm) and 22 extra lb-ft of torque (167 at
4100 rpm) with no weight gain and acceleration improves a bit (0-60 is
about a second quicker at around 9) and fuel economy changes little. I got
an average of 25 mpg from a the 2013 2.0 SE; this 2.4 GT was good for 24.
Both engines are 16-valve, dual overhead cam designs with the MIVEC
variable valve timing and lift system and aluminum alloy block and head
construction. The CVT is among the best in the industry, with no "rubber
band" lag in acceleration. Its wide spread of virtual ratios helps to
improve both acceleration and economy. Here there are shift paddles, but no
real need to use them.

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